As part of the IMU071 Introduction to Sustainability vision course conducted at Istanbul Medeniyet University, 46 students enrolled in the course presented the project proposals they had developed throughout the semester on December 23, 2025, demonstrating what they had learned in the course. The presentations covered a total of 11 different projects aimed at contributing to the university’s sustainability efforts and developing campus-scale solutions. The projects prepared by the students included artificial intelligence-supported food waste analysis systems, digital cleaning applications targeting the entire campus, second-hand sales and exchange models, and innovative approaches to energy, water, and waste management.
The presented project proposals offered multidimensional contributions to fundamental sustainability goals, such as promoting sustainable production and consumption habits, efficient use of natural resources, transition to clean and renewable energy, combating climate change, and promoting sustainable campus life. Studies on the analysis of food waste aimed to reduce waste quantities and enable more conscious planning by monitoring consumption habits. Second-hand sales platforms and swap week initiatives contributed to preventing resource waste by strengthening the culture of reuse and supported a sharing-based economic approach within the campus.
As part of renewable energy projects, solar panels, pedal-powered electricity generation, and energy monitoring systems aimed to enable transparent tracking of energy consumption and increase energy efficiency. Underground climate control systems were considered an environmentally friendly solution to meet the heating and cooling needs of buildings with lower energy consumption. Recommendations regarding the use of gray water, wastewater, and rainwater aimed to protect water resources and promote sustainable water management practices across the campus. Training activities on proper waste separation using digital cleaning systems contributed to raising awareness, encouraging behavioral change, and strengthening sustainable lifestyles across the campus in the long term.
The IMU071 Introduction to Sustainability course enabled students to evaluate the concept of sustainability not only at a theoretical level but also through real-life problems. Within the scope of the course, students applied their critical thinking, problem-solving, interdisciplinary work, and project development skills. In this respect, the course supported lifelong learning, strengthened social and environmental responsibility awareness, and contributed to the transformation of a quality education approach into concrete outcomes at the university level.